The aging forklift battery chargers at the Oregon Food Bank headquarters needed an upgrade, but budget constraints were a challenge. Thankfully, the organization’s battery vendor, Motive Energy, informed them of an opportunity to save on the new chargers through Energy Trust of Oregon cash incentives.

The food bank relies on forklifts to move massive quantities of food every week to 21 regional foodbanks. After years of heavy use, the forklift battery chargers were becoming inefficient and driving up energy costs. Facilities manager Kira Harrow saw the benefits of purchasing new, efficient chargers but needed a way to make the upgrade more affordable.

Harrow found a solution that would not only cover the full cost of the forklift battery chargers but also boost operational efficiency. The new chargers qualified for a $24,000 incentive and will reduce the facility’s annual energy bills by nearly $4,000, reduce operating expenses and extend the life of existing forklift batteries. Harrow was glad to stretch the food bank’s budget further, maximizing resources to serve Oregon communities.